Flood Forecasting

Flood forecasting has been recognized as one of the most important, reliable and cost-effective non-structural measures for flood management. Recognizing the crucial role it can play, Central Water Commission (CWC), Ministry of Water Resources has set up a network of forecasting stations covering all important flood prone interstate rivers. The forecasts issued by these stations are used to enable the local administration to take suitable administrative measures like evacuation of people from flood affected areas to safer locations during flood season and also to enable the project authorities in proper operation of reservoirs. 6239 flood/inflow forecasts were issued during the flood season 2016, out of which 5948 forecasts were found to be within permissible limit of accuracy. The overall percentage of accuracy is 95.34 %. Suitable advisories were issued during Vardah cyclone in December, 2016.

The activity of flood forecasting in India is performed by CWC on major rivers and their important tributaries. For this purpose, CWC issues flood forecasts at 199 stations (151 Level forecasting, 48 inflow forecasting) in the country. CWC has started three days advisory forecast at some of the locations using rainfall-runoff modeling and rainfall forecast of IMD to give adequate lead time to the disaster managers for preparedness. The forecasts issued by CWC prove to be very useful in saving life and public properties as a result of timely action by the authorities.

CWC has been making continuous endeavour for modernization and expansion of its flood forecasting network in order to have desired automatic system of data collection and real time data transmission. So far, 502 data collection stations have been modernized, three Earth receiving Stations have been set up at New Delhi, Jaipur and Burla, 21 Modelling Centres have been equipped with latest computer systems for analysis of data, flood forecast formulation and its dissemination to concerned agencies expeditiously.

For activities of flood forecasting, modernization and expansion in XII Plan, a proposal amounting to Rs. 281.0 crore is approved.